The Morning Risk Report: Thermo Fisher Says It Has Halted Sales of DNA Technology in Tibet
Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that it will no longer sell certain DNA-based human-identification products in Tibet, following a similar halt of sales in China's Xinjiang region.
The decision comes after pressure from human-rights groups, who allege that the technology can be misused by local police forces in these regions. [ more ]
There's a Better Way to Mine for Electric Vehicle Batteries
Brine mining, which is used to extract lithium for electric vehicle batteries, has the potential to exacerbate drought conditions and harm local wildlife.
Mining for critical minerals like cobalt and nickel also raises environmental justice concerns and can have negative impacts on human rights and local communities. [ more ]
UK has failed to act to free Alaa Abd el-Fattah from jail in Egypt, family says
The family of imprisoned activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah claims that the British government has failed to secure his release.
Abd el-Fattah, who became a British citizen, has been incarcerated in Egypt for his activism and received a five-year sentence for spreading false news. [ more ]
End unlawful killings' in occupied West Bank, UN tells Israel
The United Nations has called on Israel to end unlawful killings and settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
The report details a sharp increase in air strikes and military incursions into refugee camps, resulting in deaths, injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure. [ more ]
Gaza Is Set To Torpedo Joe Biden's Claim To A Human Rights Legacy
Visiting the State Department 10 days after his inauguration, President Joe Biden said his foreign policy would prioritize an approach to diplomacy defined by: "defending freedom, championing opportunity, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule of law, and treating every person with dignity."